The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05 00:00:00

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1881.

IMPERIAL BRITAIN. —A country on which the sun
never sets—and seldom rises.—Punch.

AMERICAN RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—According to
statistics published in the Railroad Gazette, of New
York, laS3t year was an unusually unfortunate one as
regards accidents on American railways, the number
of casualties recorded for 1880 being 1,078 against 910
for 1879, and .740 in 1878. The accidents in 1880
resulted in the death of 315 persons, and the injury of
1,172 others, while in 1879 the numbers killed and
injured were but 185 and 709 respectively. The
smallest number of accidents during one month in 1880
was 56, this number having occurred in June, while
the maximum was reached in November, when the
number was 145. No fewer than 636 out of the total
of 1,078 accidents occurred during the last five months
of the year.
FATAL EXPLOSION.—An explosion of gunpowder
occurred at Broomside Colliery, Durham, last Satur-
day morning, killing one man and seriously injuring
another. John Allberry, a miner, was filling a straw
with powder from his hand, light being furnished by
a naked candle pressed against the wall. The candle
fell into Allberry's hand, ignited the powder in the
straw, and the flame was communicated to a tin con-
taining a quantity of powder, which exploded with
terrible force. Allberry was dreadfully injured, and
died shortly afterwards. Another miner, named
Watson, was burnt about the head. Fortunately,
these were the only two workmen near at the time.
. _ _

A MISSING P/C'TURB FOUND,—A missing picture
by George Morland, No. 1 of the set illustrating the
Progress of Letitia, now hung amongst the Old
Masters' Exhibition at Burlington House, has just
been discovered. A reproduction from a print sup-
plied its place, but the present owner of the original,
accidentally finding that a picture of "Domestic
Happiness," which he bought not long ago from a
dealer was the lost No. 1, restored it to its proper
position. This picture has been separated from its
companions for over thirty years, the cause being un-
known.

CELESTIAL VISITORS TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—
On Monday afternoon his Excellency Chin, the
Chinese Charge d'Affaires, Tso, the Attache, and an
Admiral of the Chinese Navy, with one attendant,
visited the British Museum Library, dressed in the
full flowing garments of the East, with long pigtails,
&c. Their visit created some interest, and the lemon-
coloured dress of his Excellency was rather picturesque,
especially when walking round the first tier gallery.
They were shown ever the library by Professor Doug-
las, who acted as interpreter, and all .expressed their
astonishment at the vast extent and resources of the
building. The catalogues were examined with great
interest, and his Excellency observed that he had
never conceived such immensity. "Two thousand
volumes of catalogues only! Why, this is a library
intself ! " he exclaimed.

Half a million head of cattle are estimated to have
perished during the recent inclement weather in the Western
States of America.

A rumour is current in London that the duties
upon gold and silver plate will be abolished by Mr Gladstone
in the forthcoming budget.

- -
The authorities of the Oxford and Cambridge Uni-
versity Presses have announced that the publication of the
Revised Version of the New Testament will alio place about
tho middle of May.

A movement has been commenced for the purpose
of celebrating in a fitting manner the fiftieth anniversary of
the passing of the Reform Act of 1832.
A petition is in course of signature among the
farmers of Dorsetshire, praying the _Rouse of Commons to
relieve them from some of their burdens of local taxation,
particularly in the maintenance of roads.
The other day in a bone-crushing mill at Aberdeen,
John Cain, aged 44, while oiling machinery, was drawn
between two ponderous wheels and literally ground to
pieces. His remains were picked from the mills piecemeal.
A vigorous war is being waged in Chicago against
oleomargarine, butterine, and sham butters of all kinds.

The unusual abundance of the hawfinch or grosbeak
this winter has been noticed all over England. Probably
the severe weather has overcome its natural shyness, and
driven it in search of food into gardens and orchards.

At a meeting of the Electricity Exhibition Com-
mission in Paris, M. Berger announced that arrangements
had been made for the Palace of Industry being lighted up
during the exhibition by all the French and foreign systems
concurrently This will involve 800-horse power, and more
than 50 kilometres length of wire.
The United States Congress has .passed a Bill re-
questing the President to invite foreign Governments to par-
ticipate in the Exhibition of 1883.

On the Ist of April the Republic of Chili will enter
the Postal Union.

"On the 27th January, killed in the Transkei,
South Africa, Charles Barton, eldest son of the late Charles
Harrison, of sg, Great Marlborough-street, London, in his
42nd year."—Obituary of The Times, March 1.

An important discovery of plumbago has, it is said,
been made in New Zealand. A party prospecting on Govern-
ment land in Canterbury, for coal, discovered a seam below
the anthracite. The seam, which was 21n. at the outcrop,
has increased, according to the Colonies and India, in thick-
ness to nearly 41t. The mine is only five miles from a rail-
way station, and a metalled road to the workings is being
forme I. The analysis given by the assayer shows 89-5 per
cent u graphite.
Her Majesty has been pleased to confer the honour
of baronetcies on Lieutenant-General Sir Donald Stewart, -
G.C.8., and Major-General Sir Frederick Roberts,
G.C.8., in consideration of their distinguished military
services in Afghanistan.

In London last week 2,632 births and 1,525 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded by 6, whereas the deaths were 255 below,
the average numbers in the corresponding week of the
last ten years. The annual death-rate from all causes,
which had steadily declined forom 297 to 220 in the four
preceding weeks, further fell to 21'5.

In the Isle of Man an Act has passed the insnlaz
Legislature enfranchising female owners of property. The
number of women added to the register is upwards of 460.
A general election under the new law will shortly take
place, and it is intended to seek from the reformed Parlia-
ment an enlargement of the women's franchise by its exten-
sion to women occupiers.
A dinner en famille was given by the Crown Prince
at Berlin on Tuesday to the Emperor and Empress and all
the princely guests at the recent wedding. In the evening
there was a grand ball at the Royal Castle, for which 1,600
invitations were issued.
The Neue Freit Presse announces that the only
authentic portrait of Franz Schubert, the composer, a water-
colour by Rieder, has just been sold by auction. It is des-
cribed as 24 centimetres in height and of middling artistic
value, but was knocked down for 1,205 florins. It was
painted in 1825. Rieder, overtaken by a shower, had sought
refuge in the house of his friend, Schubert, and while wait-
ing there made this sketch, which he afterwards finished at
two or three sittings. It has served as the original for all
subsequent portraits of the composer.
A Catholic orphanage at Scranton, Pennsylvania,
has been burned down. Seventeen children perished in the
flames.
Under the head of "Conscience Money," the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer acknowledges in The Times the
receipt of the first half of a kb-note from "0. R. E." The
Commissioners of Inland Revenue acknowledge the receipt
of £3O from "P. R." on account of income-tax.
During his recent visit to Japan a very high oomph.-
meta was paid to Sin. J. Reed at a dinner given by Admiral
Kawamura. A dainty dish was set before him, from which,
directly it was cut, there flew a number of small birds with
written sentiments of welcome attached to their legs.
The death is announced of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, at
the age of seventy-five. He had a long official and diplo-
matic career, and for many years occupied the post of
Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1870 he retired to Jersey, on
the outbreak of the Revolution, and took no further active
share in politics.
The Panama Star and Herald of the 19th February
publishes advices from Lima, which state that the losses in
killed and wounded at the battles of Chorillos and Mira-
fibres were not sc great on either side as at first reported..
The losses occasioned by fire and the plundering of houses
during a riot at Lima on the 15th of January are estimated
at 6,000,000 dollars.
The case of the female assistants in drapers' shops
has at length engaged the serious attention of a number of
Members of Parliament, and a Bill on their behalf will
shortly be introduced into Parliament by Mr. Walter St.
Aubyn, Mr. Mlntyre, and Baron Henry De Worms. Al-
ready the scheme of befriending this large class has the
warm support of many on both sides of the House.
The following obituary notice e.ppeared in The
Times of Monday :—" On the 20th Feb., 1881, at East Haley,
Berks, after a continuous service of 46 years on one farm
there, William Gregory, an excellent and very intelligent
farm labourer, one who never shirked his work, and who
leaves few equals surviving him."

In support of the suggested reform in the charges
for telegrams, it is stated that the system of charging a
half-penny per word has been in force in Germany
for several years, and that whereas formerly under the
uniform charge of is. per message the department Wan "
carried on at a loss, at the present time a profit is made on the telegrams,

The Dublin Gazette of Feb. 25th contains an Order
in Council prohibiting the importation into Ireland daring
the month of March of animals from Great Britain, owing
to the existence of foot and mouth disease in England and
3cotland.
Messrs. Anderson, Ramsay, and Charles M'Laren
have introduced a bill for the amendment of the laws re-
lating to banking; regulating the issuing of notes, the audit
of books, the redemption of notes in case of failure, and the
appointment of an administrative staff.

As the result of a ballot, the men out on strike at
New Seaham decided to resume work and thus put an end.
to the difficulty which has existed for eight weeks.
The following cable message has been received at
the London office of the New York Herald, from the Herald
weather bureau, New York :—"A disturbance is crossing
north of forty-five, and will arrive with increased energy on
the British and Norwegian coasts between the 28th and 2nd,
rain, south-east veering north-west gales. Low temperature
follows. Atlantic stormy."

Great damage has been done by an avalance at
Bristen, in Uri. Many houses and bridges were swept
away, and over a space of two miles the ground oscillated as
if shaken by an earthquake. The inhabitants being warned
betimes, no lives were lost.
Last week's receipt of cotton at all *United States
ports have been 136,000 bales, and since Ist September
4,509,065 bales. Shipments to England and Great Britain,
55,000 bales, and to the Continent and Channeil 35,000 bales;
total since Ist September 2,877,276 bales. Stock at all ports
869,000 bales.
Dr. Kanchir3 Takaki, F.R.C.S. Eng., who received
his professional education at St. Thomas's Hospital, and was
admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in
April, 1878, and a Fellow in 1880, immediately on his return
to Tokio, Japan, was appointed Chief of the Imperial Naval
Hospital, and a member of the Committee for the Preparation
of a Japanese Pharmacopceis, and to attend all the foreigners
with their families employed by the Imperial Naval Depart-
ment.

The total receipts for the 100 performances given in
the United States by Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt reached
326,000 dollars, Mdlle. Bernhardt's personal share being
136,400 dollars, all her expenses' being paid in addition.
This dramatic tour exceedstia financial results all that have
hitherto been made in America.

Mr. Gladstone was visited by Sir James Paget
and Dr. A. Clark on Tuesday afternoon, and shortly after-
wards the following bulletin was issued :—" Mr. Gladstone
is in all respects so well that no further bulletins will be
issued.'
The Postmaster-General has requested ten tele-
graphists to come to see him on the 15th instant, for the
purpose of discussing their grievances. There will be four
men and two women from the provinces, and two men and
two women from London.

Mr. Forster, in acknowledging a resolution passed
last week by the general representative committee of the
Bradford Liberal Electoral Association, has written as fol-
lows :—" Pray assure the members of the Liberal Associa-
tion that I greatly value their support to the Government,
and I am deeply grateful to them for their personal kind-
nesi to myself. It is very cheering to me that my Bradford
friends do not misinterpret my motives in the performance
of a most painful political duty, old their generous sym-
pathy makes me all the more confident that I shall have the
earnest and helpful aid of my constituents when we come to
remedial measures for Ireland, which we have a hopeful.
confidence we shall soon bring in and pass."