The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-20 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

'BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

A Marseilles newspaper states that the Emperor of
Japan will in August next start on a visit to France.

At a large meeting of the New Forest Commissioners,
held at Lyndhurst on Saturday, resolutions were passed com-
plaining of the operation of the Deer Removal Act of 1851,
and praying for an inquiry by a House of Commons Com-
mittee into its working.

King Victor Emanuel and his eldest son, Prince
Humbert, having both been bcrn on the 14th of March,
their birthday was celebrated in Italy on Sunday with public
rejoicings. In honour of the event, a review was held in
Rome, at which Prince Humbert was present.
At the London Coal-market on Monday morning
there was again a good demand for best house coal, at pre-
vious rates. The supply of inferior qualities was, however,
largely in excess of the demand, and for these sorts a reduc-
tion of 2s. a ton was submitted to.

An engine tenter, named Bradley, met with a shock-
ing death at Sheffield on Tuesday. He was cleaning an
engine at the Talbot Works, when his clothes were caught
in the machinery, and he was mangled beyond recognition.
From Washington we learn that the diplomatic cor-
respondence respecting the Virginius has been presented to
the Senate. The dispute was linaTly settled on the 9th inst.
by Spain agreeing to pay an indemnity of eighty thousand
dollars to the United States Government. The latter there-
upon recognised King Alfonso.
Advices from the Persian Gulf state that intense
cold has prevailed there. Seven persons had died of expo-
sure near Bussorah. All the roads were blocked with snow,
and rendered impassable for traffic. For miles along the
Persian shore of the gulf the beach was strewn with fish,
which had been driven by the unusual cold to leave the
water, and had died upon the beach. Some of them were
from one hundred to one hundred and fifty pound.s in
weight.
Some prospective idea may be formed of the splendid
future of Great Britain in the South Seas by a reference to
actual present doings. The Australian statistics for 1873
show the aggregate exports and imports of the five colonies
to have amounted to the enormous sum of £80,000,000 in
value. This sum represents the trade of two millions of
people, and in proportion to population, is just double the
corresponding commerce of the United Kingdom.
Some one is trying to introduce shuttlecock jut
the drawing-room, and recently sent out cards with "Shuttle.
cock" in the corner. The game was played in a large room
without many knick-knacks, fancy china, and looking-glasses.
The object was to keep up two shuttlecocks. Playful, giddy
girls and boys I—Court Journal.
A novelty in costume is a fan, the nandle of which
forms a pocket-handkerchief holder. Some fans have also
a tiny scent bottle inserted at the bottom of the fan-handle.
And thus a fan becomes handkerchief, scent bottle, and fan
in one.

---
A party of agricultural labourers, accompanied by
their families, numbering 223 souls, sailed on the 25th ult.
from Liverpool by the steamship Sarmatian, of the Allan
line. The Agent-General last Friday received a cable message
from Toronto announcing their safe arrival, and the pleasing
intelligence that they were all settled on the same day.

The Rev. William Sprott, who was injured in the
collision at Bedfotd on Friday, in last week, expired in the
accident ward of the Bedford Infirmary on Sunday evening,
from shock, cuts about the head and face, and serious injury
to the back. His case was hopeless from the first, and he
remained unconscious up to the time of his death. On Sun-
day the other sufferers were going on most favourably
The Lords of the Committee of Council on Educa-
tion have issued orders for the compulsory formation of
school boards in the parishes of Broadhempston, Cadeleigh,
Glass Houghton, Ilchester, Kirk Bramwith, Sherford, and
Wedmore; and in the united districts of Hayscastle, Pem-
brokeshire; Llanrhaiadr yn Mochnant, Denbigh and Mont-
gomery.
On Saturday, at noon, the remains of the late
Major Sir J. P. Hopkins, Governor of the Military Knights,
were interred in the catacombs at the west end of St.
George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. At the request of the
gallant deceased military honours were dispensed with, but
a number of distinguished officers and Peninsular veterans
attended the funeral.
In London, on Tuesday, Lord Houghton presided
over a public meeting of railway shareholders and others de-
sirous of promoting the abolition of the passenger duty,
which was held at the "City Terminus "Hotel, Cannon-street.
Resolutions were passed declaring that the continued im
position of the tax was injurious and oppressive to railway
companies, condemning the late stringent enforcement of
the duty, and adopting a memorial to the Prime Minister
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer setting forth the objects
sought to be accomplished.
About 240,000 women are engaged in the produc-
tion of lace in the departments of Calvados and Auvergne,
France. It is made from flax, silk, and gold and silver.
wire ; but that made from flax is most valuable.

The third annual collection in the workshops of Bir-
mingham, in aid of the medical charities, was held last
Saturday. Deputations from each factory paid what had
been collected into the Joint Stock Bank, where a special
staff of clerks was engaged until a late hour. The total
amount was £2,780, the sum last year being £3,171. Many
contributions will be received during the current week, and
there is but little doubt that the total for 1874 will:be ex-
ceeded.

Dr. Jenner, ex-Bishop of Dunedin, met with an
accident at the Waterloo Railway Station, in London, on
Tuesday afternoon. When walking from the platform to-
wards the Waterloo-road he slipped in descending the two
steps leading to the roadway, and fell. When medical as-
sistance was procured it was found that he had seriously
injured his knee. No bones were broken, but the injury is
said to be of a very painful character. Dr. Jenner was re-
moved to the house of a friend in Loudon.

When the Treasury receipts were made up on Satur-
day last, the financial year had eighteen days longer to run.
The Budget estimate for the entire twelve months was
£74,425,000, and of this £71,413,116 has come in. In two
instances the revenue has already exceeded the anticipations
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The income-tax, which
was to have produced £3,060,000, has yielded £4,110,000 ; and
the Post Office, from which £5,300,000 was expected, has
brought in £220,000 over that sum. The produce of the
Customs is now within £377,000 of the estimate for the year ;
but that of the Excise is not up to that expectation by
nearly a million and a half sterling.
The artilleryman, Richard Coates, condemned to
death at the late Essex Assizes for the murder of a little girl
named Alice Baughan, at Purfieet, will be executed at
Springfield Gaol on the morning of 'Caster Monday, March
29. The convict occupies two cells in the gaol, one by night
and the other by day, and he is constantly watched by a
warder. The chaplain of the gaol, the Itev. G. B. Hamilton,
Is assiduous in his attendance on the condemned man, who
has exhibited a becoming demeanour.

With a Military funeral of a very imposing character
the remains of the late General Sir James Rope Grant,
G C. 8., were interred on Saturday in the Grange Cemetery at
Edinburgh. A large body of cavalry and infantry followed
the coffin, and among those attending the funeral were offi-
cers represlanting the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cam-
bridge. While the procession was passing through the
streets an unfortunate accident occurred through the
pressure of the crowd, and several persons were badly in-
jured.
During last week 5,836 births and 4,401 deaths were
registered in London and twenty other large towns of the
United Kingdom, and the natural increase of population was
1,435. The mortality from all causes was at the average
rate of 30 deaths annually in every 1,000 persons living, and
the annual death-rate was 24 per 1,00 in Edinburgh, 37 in
Glasgow, and 33 ia Dublin. In London 2,609 births and
1,847 deaths were registered. Allowing for increase of popu-
lation, the births exceeded by 20, and the deaths by 197, the
average numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten
years. The annual death-rate from all causes, which had
been equal to 28 per 1,000 in each of the two preceding
weeks, was again 28 last week.
Oak timber is rapidly disappearing from Europe,
although half of the area of Sweden, one-fourth that of
Norway, one-sixth that of Switzerland, and 780,000 square
miles in European Russia are said yet to be in forest. The
consumption of oak in France has doubled during the last
fifty years. In Norway the _Administration of Forests de-
clares that it is 'necessary to stop the cutting of timber.
Rolland and Belgium are nearly denuded of timber, and
are large importers. North Germany is rich in forest, but
within half-a-century has begun to cut down young trees.
Austria has sold her forests since railways have been intro-
duced. In Italy no forests remain. Spain and Greece are
almost absolutely woodless. The southern coast of the Medi-
terranean are almost forestless. Wood, for all purposes of
construction, is becoming scarcer and dearer in all parts
of the United States yearly. In the Dominion of Canada it
is yet abundant, though rather farther to seek.

Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" have been traits-
lated into Swedish under the title of "Konung Arthur och
hans riddare" (King Arthur and his Knights).
The German Government has permitted the Swiss
Government to purchase in Germany 400 horses, required for
the Swiss cavalry.
A proposal to increase the taxes on liquour in
France has been rejected by the National Assembly by 333
votes to 283.

On Tuesday evening a meeting of colliers on strike
at Dewsbury was held on the Moor near the town, when it
was agreed that they would submit to a reduction of four
per cent. in the rate of wages upon certain specified condi-
tions.

The fashionable scarf-pin for Parisian ladies and
gentlemen—for the former wear now also shirt fronts and
coat tails—is a model of the blue five-sous postage stamps.—
Court Journal.
An official return gives 1,295,520 kilogrammes as the
amount of horseflesh consumed in Paris during 1874. There
are now fifty horseflesh butchers in Paris itself, and five in
the Banlieue.

A letter from St. Petersburgh, says a project is being
discussed in official circles for transporting the worst class
of criminals to the island of Saghalin, in the Pacific, and
employing them in collieries, facilities of communication
having rendered Siberia less auitable than formerly for suc.4
persons
The authorities of the Nottingham Free Library
have written to the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge to state
that since the institution of local examinations the issue of
works of fiction has declined and given place to the reading
of scientific books.
The stamp duty on patents in the year ended the
list of March was £145,485, being an increase of £6,836 on
the year 187 E.
The Lancet, in speaking of the death of Sir Arthur
Helps, says :—"The severe attack of pleurisy, which his
strength was insufficient to resist, dates from a cold corn',
mencing after his attendance at .a lev6e on one of the bleak
days which ushered in the month. How often a similar ex-
planation for grave illness has to be given—that of needless
exposure and chill in some part of our social arrange-
ments I"
The "latest thing" in the advertising line is a lady
who, through the newspapers, seeks for employment as •au
"ornamental guest." She will assist at dinner or evening
parties—by her grace, her wit, and beauty, contribute to the
entertainment of guests, and she will do everything in the
highest style of art—but she demands handsome compensa-
tion.—Court Journal.
The Madras correspondent of the TiVICB of India
states (under date of February 20), that there was a duel
on the preceding Wednesday, at Pondicherry, between a
magistrate and a captain in the army. The former gave the
challenge and chose rapiers. The latter was slightly
scratched, and honour was satisfied.
American papers state that an earthquake at
Guadalajara on the 11th of February damaged houses and
churches. The Seboruco volcano at the same time was id a
violent state of eruption. The shock extended to San
Cristabal, where houses were destroyed and several persons
were killed.
From the London Gazette of Tuesday night it appears
that during the month of February 1,129 head of cattle, 60
sheep, and 11 pigs suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, and
10 sheep suffering from sheep scab, were landed at English
ports from the Continent. They were all slaughtered at the
places of landing.
The death is announced at Troppau of Prince
Blucher von Wahlsatt, grandson of the famous Field.
Marshal. His eldest son, Count Gebhard-Lebrecht, suc-
ceeds to the title and the Silesian estates, and becomes by
his father's death a peer of Prussia. To the second son,
Count Gustav, fall the lordship and estates of Germakowka,
in Galicia.
A return made by the National Debt Commissioners
shows that in February there was standing to the credit of
the trustee Savings Banks of the United Kingdom
£41,425,475, and to the credit of the Post-office Savings Reeks
£24,005,877, makings total of no less than £65,421,352 belong-
ing to Savings Banks. This is above three millions more
than at the corresponding date in 1874.
"Captain Frederick Trench, an officer now serving
In the 20th Hussars, and formerly a subaltern in Hodgson's
Horse ' has published an able pamphlet upon the question
of Recruiting, in which he dwells especially upon the
advantages of short service and deferred pay as contrasted
with long service and pensions, alleging that by increasing
the pay of the soldier and keeping it for him until his dis-
charge, or transfer to the Militia, no further expense will be
Incurred by the nation than was caused by the old system of
long service and pensions."—Wednesday's Times.
They have a new railway terror in Colorado. 901-
Batons are bad enough ; telescoping Is more than bad enough;
snow-drifts of great depth and consistency are harrowing to
the philosophic mind; but when the wind comes down with
such force and velocity upon a train as to sweep it from the
track, passengers and all, it is hard to say what good that ill
wind blows to anybody. "Over we went," writes a pas-
senger, "piling men, women, children, baggage, cushions,
and everything together." Fortunately nobody was much
hurt, and they didn't find it quite so monotonous as lying
helpless in a drift.
From Melbourne the mail bring news to the 28th of
January. The Melbourne Argus of that date says :---During
the past month the inhabitants of this colony have been sub-
jected to the trying extremes of heat and cold. On New
Year's Day the out-door amusements were considerably in-
terfered with by the wintry weather which prevailed. Though
January is generally about the hottest month in the year, the
weather continued cool until the beginning of last week,
when a period of five days, the hottest which has yet been
recorded in the colony, set in. In Melbourne during this
time the thermometer registered from 106 deg. te 111.0cleg. in
the shade, and from 140 deg. to 148 deg. in the sun. In some
of the country districts a considerably higher temperature
was 'worded.