The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-11-19 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGNJ

Mr. Gladstone's secretary, writing to a Manchester
gentleman in reply to an inquiry whether there was any
truth in the statement recently circulated that he was about
to take the title of Earl of Liverpool, says he is directed by
Mr. Gladstone to say that there is no truth in the statement
that he is about to be raised to the peerage.
- - -

The steamer Carlin9ford came in collision with the
steam barge Brunswick, on Lake Erie, off Port Colbourn' on
Saturday, both sinking. Four persons were drowned. The
rest of the crews escaped in the boats, after pulling twenty
miles in a rough sea.

The Danish Society for the Protection of Animals
offers two prizes—one of 2,000 francs and one of 1,000 francs
—for the beat scientific treatise upon that branch of the
question of vivisection which would enable examinations to
be made upon animals recently dead, rather than living, and
also upon the means of avoiding the very painful experi-
ments which are now made. The treatise may be written in
Danish, French, English, or German.
- -

Advices from Bombay state that heavy rains have
fallen in Mysore, and much anxiety regarding the crops has
consequently been removed. Prices have fallen 25 per
cent., and a great portion of the standing crops has been
saved.

Mrs. Garfield has addressed a letter to Colonel
Rockwell, requesting him to make known her intention of
getting published, at the earliest practicable time, an ac-
count of the life of her late husband, and an appropriate
collection of his literary remains, "after that careful con-
sideration and preparation so manifestly necessary."
- -

- -
Lady Alice Sophia Fortescue, sixth daughter of Earl
Fortescue, and sister to Lord Ebrington, the newmember for
Tiverton, died on Monday at 20, Charles-street, Berkeley-
square, London.

Sir Andrew Fairbairn, M.P., speaking at the open-
ing of a new Liberal club at Plulsey, said he was sorry the
people of Ireland had not accepted the Land Bill in the
spirit in which it was passed, but he rejoiced that recently so
many tenants had availed themselves of its provisions. Mr.
Barran, M.P., said the'people in America put more intelli-
gence into their farming than we did, but if the farmers
were better secured the intelligence would be forthcoming.

Mr. Gladstone was conducted on Saturday over the
London Billingsgate Market. There was a number of sprat
boats busily at work at the time disposing of their cargoes
to the costermongers. Mr. Gladstone put many questions
with reference to the rentals of the shops and standings of
the market, and the fish question generally. Large crowds
gathered round and cheered him lustily, but in no way im-
peded his visit.
- -

The Toronto Globe publishes a special despatch from
Ottawa to the effect that at the approaching session of the
Dominion Parliament a member will bring forward a motion

affirming the desirability of securing a comPlete independence
for Canada, and the election of a Canadian as Chief
Magistrate or Governor-General.
-

-
The famous witch's Sabbath haunt, the Brocken, is
the latest mountain threatened with railway invasion. The

i•Oiite-i-o-ih—e-siimmit of this highest point of the Harz range
has been satisfactorily surveyed, and it is not unlikely that
the line may be ready by next year.

The Russian Government has made a grant of
14,000 roubles for next year for two Polar observing stations
—one at the mouth of the Lena, and the other, of second
rank, but also for meteorological andmagnetic observations,
on one of the islands of New Siberia.

It is stated that during his year of office the ex-Lord
Mayor of London, Alderman McArthur, entertained upwards
of 20,000 guests.

_
A special London Gazette issued on Monday night
contained the names of the sheriffs for English and Welsh
counties during the ensuing year, the nominations having
been made on Saturday last in the Queen's Bench Division.
The revival of the noble sport of falconry has been
determined on by many of the sporting clubs of the
Continent

Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports have been 223,000 bales, and since let September,
1,567,500 bales. Exports to Great Britain, 52,000 bales, and
to the Continent and Channel, 47,000 bales; total since let
September, 721,300 bales. Stock at all ports, 780,000
bales.
An explosion of gas which took place at Hamburg
last Saturday completely destroyed a house, killing three
persons on the spot and dangerously wounding six others.
All the windows and doors of the neighbouring houses were
likewise shattered to pieces.

Sir Tollemache Sinclair, M.P., has issued an address
to his tenantry in Sutherlandshire, discussing present agricul-
tural distress. He admits the proprietors should assist the
tenants in times of emergency, and announces that he has
resolved to give grazing tenants 20 per cent., large farmers of
arable land above 100 acres 10 per cent., and small farmers
20 per cent, reduction on the year's rent.

Divine service was performed at Balmoral Castle on
Sunday morning in the presence of the Queen, Princess
Beatrice, and the Royal Household by the Rev. A. Campbell,
minister of Crathie.

The annual Poultry and Pigeon Show at the Crystal
Palace was opened on Monday. The total number of birds
on view was 7,000, the exhibition being the largest ever held.
In nearly all the classes special excellence was manifested,
and the competition for prizes was very close.
The prospect of a speedy conclusion of a Com-
mercial Treaty between England and France, which shall be
satisfactory to both countries, is regarded by well-informed
persons both in London and Paris as most encouraging.
Among the circumstances which favour a satisfactory settle-
ment the accession to power of M. Gambetta is one.
At a local taxation reform meeting held at Ciren-
cester, a letter was read from Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, in
which he said he had recently ssen in more than one place
this question referred to as a crotchet of a few members of
Parliament, among whom his own name was prominently
mentioned. This allegation, he remarked must appear
absurd to those who knew anything of the public feeling on
the subject.
A correspondent writes from the vicinity of Dijon :
—" Twelve days ago we had in our woods some snow half
a yard in depth, and frosts so severe that wild-boar hunting
was impossible. One night's frost destroyed all the flowers
in the Botanical Gardens at Dijon. We have now, the 10th
Inst., a sudden spell of real July weather ; while two years
ago, a few days later, this same month, the wine was frozen
as it stood on our dinner tables "

Major Charles Ford, of the 4th Regiment of Essex
Volunteers, some time since suggested to a member of the
Council of the National Rifle A,sociation (Lord Etcho) the
desirability of instituting a !evolver cmpetition for volun-
teer °Meets at the annual Wimbledon Nleeting. It is under-
stood that the proposal meets wills the approval of many
members of the council, and that it is about to be considered
at a meeting of that body. The skilful use of revolvers on
the Majuba Hill, in South Africa, would not have been with-
out its advantage.

The election of Lord Rector for Aberdeen Univer-
sity took place on 4aturday, the candidates-being Sir James
Paget and Dr. Bain, late Professor of Logic in the Univer-
sity. Dr. Bain was returned by large majorities in all the
four "Nations" into which the students are divided for
electoral purposes. His total majority was 205.

Sunday was observed, at the suggestion of the
Bishop of Rochester (Dr. Thorold), as a " temperance"
Sunday throughout the diocese of Rochester. In the
churches of the establishment tnroughout the diocese
sermons were delivered at the morning services on behalf
of the sans° of the Church of England Temperance Society
and of temperance generally.
"We have good grounds for saying that the chief
measure of next Ss ssion, after the questions affecting the busi-
ness of the House, will be the reform of the system of county
government. This will, of course, involve the establishment
of County Boards, and will be practically an extension to
rural districts of those principles of representative Govern-
ment, which, by the fegislation of 1835, were applied to
towns. The Home Secretary will have charge of the Bill."
Standard.
"I noticed that last week that Mr. Forbes of
Culloden had taken steps to mark the graves of the brave
men who fell under the standard of Prince Charles Edward
Stuart in the '45.' Curiously enough, in an art exhibition
now being held in the Highland capital, there is shown what
is believed to be the only authentic likeness known of the
Pretender. It is said to have been given to the Lochiel of
the time by the Prince himself."—The World.
A windfal is a phrase lightly used and generally
suggesting a stroke of luck. But there are windfalls which
bring only lass and no gain to the owner of property. Such
was the storm of the 14th of October—the great storm, as
it will long ,coutinue to be known as. It is supposed that at
least 100,000 great trees, all giants of the forest, have been
blown down in the principal parks of 'England.
Sir R. A. Cross, M.P., speaking on Tuesday night
at a Conservative meeting at Warrington, pointed out that,
although there had been a tendency to improvement in
trade recently, people had not got all they wanted from the
change of Government, nor had the present Administration
been able to do much in the way of home legislation. As
regarded dealing with obstruction and reforming the rules
of the House, he promised the Government Conservative
support, as also in maintaining law and order in Ireland;
but as regarded their Irish policy, the Ministry must
expect at the proper time sharp criticism.
On Sunday morning the Prinle and Princess of
Wales, with the Princesses Louise, :Victoria, and Maud, and
the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by the guests staying
In the'house, and attended by the ladies and gentlemen of
the household, attended Divine service at Sandringham
Church. The Rev. F. A. J. Hervey, rector of Sandringham
and domestic chaplain to the Prince of Wales, officiated,
assisted by the Rev. Canon Birch, rector of Prestwich,
Manchester, chaplain to the Queen and honorary chaplain to
the Prince of Wales, who preached the sermon.
From the success which appears to have attended
the experiments in importing from Labrador into England
frozen sal:non in a wholesome and palateable condition
(remarks the Pall Mall Gazette), it is not unlikely that at
no distant date we shall have our markets supplied every
winter, during a time a hen the sale of home-bred salmon is
prohibited, with a plentiful amount of "foreign " salmon.
Already, indeed, since the close season for the sale of salmon
captured in English, Irish, anti Scotch waters has commenced,
a fair amount of these frozen fish have been on sale both in
the metropolitan and local markets.
The Admirality have directed compressed jute to be
tried as armour against Nordenfelt and oatling gulls, with
a view to ascertain whether it could be need, principally in.
torpedo vessels, instead of lion and steel. If the experi-
ments prove satisfactury, increased speed through lighter
displacement will have been secured, which is a most im-
portant advantage.
The Council of the Society of Arts, on the recom-
meLdation of the judges in the late competition of plant
labels, are prepared to renew the offer of a Society's silver
medal, together with a priz of £5, which has been placed
at their 'disposal for the purpose by Nlr. G. F. Wilson,
F.R.S., for the, best label for plants. The object of the offer
is to obtain a label which may be cheap and durable, and
must be suitable for plants in open border. These con-
siderations will principally govern the award.
A New York telegram says that the visible supply
of wheat on November 11 was 21,200,000 bushels; ditto ,
corn, 25,000,000 bushels. Export clearances of wheat
for Europe during the past week, 880,000 bushels; export
clearances of corn for Europe during the past week, 730,000
bushels.
An American paper says that Kate Shelley, the
lowa girl whose heroic daring raved a railroad train from
destruction a few weeks since, is recovering front the sick-
ness caused by exposure on that dreadful night, and will
soon be able to leave her bed again. The purses made up
for her relief amount to about 3,000 dole.
It is stated that Mr. Gubbay, of Calcutta, has
offered to bear the expense of the erection of a memorial in
that city in honour oi the visit of the Prince of Wales.
A Reuter's telegram from Chios says :—The report
that serious shocks of earthquake had recently occurred here
is exaggerat• d, as only some slight shocks of no consequence
have been felt.
The admission of foreigners to inspect the naval and
military establishments i
, dockyards, ships nd , arsenals, a
i
defences of this country s, it s said, about to be made the
subject of inquiry by a mixed Committee to be nominated by
the War Office and Admiralty.
From an official paper issued by the Government of
India it appears that the total number of wild animals
destroyed throughout
_Hindustan has fallen from 23,459 in
1876 to 14,880 in 1880. This diminution is not due to the
approaching extinction of these animals, since the number
of persons killed annually by wild beasts and snakes has
advanced during the same period from 19,272 to 21,090.
Mr. Henry Jecks Dixon, of Kidderminster, the
oldest carpet manufacturer in the world, died at a great age
on Monday morning. He was a freeman of the City of
London, and was engaged as a carpet manufacturer for
upwards of sixty years. His firm was the first to introduce
steam power in weaving Brussels carpet, which has com-
pletely revolutionised the trade.
An inquest was held on Monday at Aintree on the
body of William Macdonald, aged 22, -the jockey, who met
with an accident in the race for the Liverpool Cup last
week. The evidence showed that the deceased had just struck
his horse, when it crossed its forelegs and fell, throwing
him over its head. The deceased was raising himself when
the forefeet of Ercildoune, which, ridden by White, was
close behind, struck him in the face, and caused the injuries
to Macdonald which resulted in his death. The jury found
a verdict of "Accidental death."