The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-04-10 00:00:00

THE MARKETS.

MAII,K LANE --:Mo
At Mark-lane quietness prevails. Supplies were again very
short, both as regards home and foreign produce, but thq
splendid weather for agriculture and the weakness of tha
New York market, prevents any*very extensive dealings, 141
English wheat there was very little trade doing at about late
rates. For foreign wheat the demand was on a limited scale,
and prices gave way is. per qr. Fine malting barley remained
scarce and dear. Grinding sold at late currencies. Malt was
disposed of on former terms. For oats there was a moderate
inquiry at 3d. to 6d. per quarter more money. Maize was
weaker at a decline of is. per quarter. Beans and peas were
quiet at about late rates. The flour market was inactive at
previous currencies.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.-MoITDAY.
The cattle trade is quiet in tone and without fresh feature
Supplies are not large, but they satisfy requirements. The
arrivals of home-fed beasts are again short, the eastern
counties still forwarding very sparingly. From Scotland there
were fair receipts, but very few from Ireland. A want of
animation was observed in the demand, buyers operating
very quietly, and the level of prices remained about the
same as last week. The best Scots and crosses sold at
ss. 10d. to 6s. per 81b. From Norfolk and Suffolk we received _
about 900 ; from the Midland and home counties about 900;
and from Scotland about 350 head. The foreign side of the
market was well supplied with beasts. There were aboul
400 Spanish, 350 Daniels, besides American and .Swedish.
The trade was quiet, at about late .orrencies. The sheep,:
pens were moderately well filled. The market presented
very quiet appearance, prices showing a drooping
tendency. The best Downs and half-breds in the Wool
made 6s. 6d. to Cs. Bd., and ditto ellpped4 Os. to Os. -
per 81b. Lambs were quiet, at 75.. CA to Bs. 6d. per 81b.
Calves and pigs sold slowly at about late rates. At Deptford .
there were about 500 beasts and 8,000 sheep. Inferior Masts,
4s. ad. to 55.; second quality, ss. to ss. Od. • prime ls. 1•0
oxen, 55. Bd, to ss. 10d. ; prime Scots, 55. 10d. to s_,s. •, to,
tenor sheep, 4s. 6d. to ss. ; second quality, ss. 4.tn 00! i
prime coarso-woolled, 6s. 4d. to Cs. 6d.; prime Suutlnlownso
6s. 6d. tog6s. Bd. • large coarse calves, ss, 6. to Oa, ; prime
small ditto, Os. C:d. to 75.; large 11,CigS, as, lid, to 4s. •, small
porkers, 4s. 6d. to 55.; lambs, Is. Cd. to B.s. ed. per 81b. sink,
ing the offal.

METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.--MoNDAY.
The demand for meat was very quiet to-day, and a clear-
ance wap not effected. Prices ruled somewhat in buyers'
favour. Inferior beef, 2s. Bd. to 39. Bd.; middling ditto,
3s. Bd. to 4s. 4d.; prime large ditto, 4s. 6d. to 48. 10d. ; prime
small ditto, 4s. 10d. to ss. 2d.; veal, 55.. 4d. to ss. Bd. ; in-
ferior mutton, 3s. Od. to 3s. 4d.; middling ditto, 35. Bd. to
48. 4d. ; prime ditto, 48. Bd. to ss. 4d. ; large pork, 4s. 4d. to
48. Bd.; and small ditto, 58. Od. to ss. 4d. per 81b. by the
carcase.

POTATO.
The supplies of potatoes have been moderate, and trade
remains steady at fully previous rates :—Scotch regents, 140 s.
Lincoln ditto, 170 s. to
; German
t1o80s1.50s;
vicctloirianasip,ioizs,
.108081.80tso.
p2eoOrst.o;n
reds, 58. 6d.
to its.; Dutch whites, ss. ; French whites, ss.

THE , ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.
The last monthly report of the Swiss Federal Coun-
cil about the St. Gothard tunnel gives some interesting
rticulars with regard to the completion of the work.
pe average number of men employed in the tunnel
unring the last month yas 2,814, and the total expen-
diture up to the date when the parties working from
the two ends joined hands was 1.,825,139. The
quantity of earth and rock excavated was about
570,000 cubic yards, and the masonry of the arch
of the tunnel was completed for a distance of seven
miles out of nine. The pressure of the air at the
northern mouth of the tunnel was equivalent to
61- atmospheres, while at the southern end it was
equivalent to only 3-6 atmospheres. The volume of
air introduced into the tunnel every day was 187,584
cubic yards, and the mean temperature at the head of
tne shaft on the Goschenen side was 86 degrees
Fahrenheit, and 84 degrees on the Airolo side, risincr
to as much as 87 degrees during the removal of the soil
excavated. The highest temperature upon either side
O f the tunnel was 94 deg. (Fahrenheit), and this at a
time when the thermometer outside stood at only 3 deg.
above freezing-point. The average number of lamps
alight in the tunnel was about 750 a day, and the daily
consumption was about seventy gallons. It may be
added that about eighty men lost their lives, and twice
as 111,anY more received severe injuries, while the work
in Progress. Compared with the estimates care-
dY made by the International Conference, it now
turns out that the actual cost of the construction of the
St. Gothard Tunnel will show a saving of no less than
eleven millions of francs.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH ON THE
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.
The Duchess of Marlborough's Committee met on Monday,
'then her Grace read the following letter from his Royal
Rlghness the Duke of Edinburgh, dated her Majesty's ship
Lively, Galway :
MY dear Duchess,—Major Gaskell, who takes this
letter to you, will explain in detail the work which
has been done in the past few days; but I should wish
to add a few observations. On arriving on this coast I
found that the arrangement of placing certain vessels
entirely at the disposal of one or other of the agents of
the two relief committees was likely to lead to delay in
"TYing out whatever might be the most pressing ser-
vice of the moment, as, for instance, in the imme-
diate distribution of the seed potatoes brought by the
Valorous from Dublin. I therefore requested the
Adiniralty to place all the vessels employed in relief
!Fork directly under my orders, which they have done.
Would therefore ask that the committees would corn-
illinicate direct with me as to what is required, I
will endeavour to have the proper ships at the right
lace with as little delay as possible. In the last few
riaYs I have given what assistance I could to Major
".ask!3ll in house to house visiting and distribution of
Clothing from your fund.
During this visit I have come to the conviction that
although the clothing supplied is a great benefit to the
})..?°r People, still greater good would be done by send-
ing stuff in the piece which could be cut off 13y the
rill:nber of yards required in each case leaving the re-
cipients to make it up themselves. The course I sug-
gest would also entail less expense to the fund.
The Valorous has returned here with me, and is
real to carry any large supplies to any central point,
and think it would be best to send here by rail the
stores for her, instead of sending her again round to
Dublin to fetch them. The stormy weather of this
Week has rather delayed operations.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1880