The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-11 00:00:00

REMARKS ON PASSING EVENTS.

The bill for the abolition ot compulsory Church Rates,
which is now passing through the House of Lords. promises
to settle a question which has witnessed many Parliamentme
vicissitudes. Thirteen years ago the measure for total abo-
lition passed its second reading by a majority of 2S, and this
rose to 43 in 1'56, to 53 two years afterwards, and to 74 in
1859. The new Parliament summoned in that year gave it
a majority of 70, 'Which fell 10 29 in 1860, and to 9 on the
third reading. In 1861 there was a majority of 15 On the
second reading, but on the third there was a tie. 274 voting
on either side. The next year there was a majority of one
only, while in 1863 the supporters of the bill a ere in a
minority 01 10. In the Met session of the present parliament
there was a majority of 33 in favour of the measure, and
this was increased to 76 in the second, the highest ever re-
corded This decisive expression of opinion on the part of
the House of Commons appears to have cleared tllO way for
the acceptance by the Lords of the compromise now offered
by Mr. Gladstone.
An attempt is being made in London toettablish what may
be called at teetotalera' hospital—a hospital, that is to say, in
which diseases if be treated without the aid of drugs or
alcohol. The committee of the Temperance Hygiene Hos-
pital" wish tirst to test their aystem in aoMe of tire workhouse
infirmaries, and a deputation from that body waited on Arch-
bishop Maiming, on Saturday. to ask his assistance to this
end. The system has already been Hied niost succemf ally
both in tide country and in America. The Arclahishop said
Ire considered the object the deputation had in view ens
highly satisfactory and Columendable, and promised to give
the committee all the aid in his power.

There is good reason to believe that several shipwrecked
survivors of the St. Abbe, which was lost in WS, and of the
two boats of JIM gunboat Penguin, are at the present
moment held is captivity by the Somali tribes in the eastern
parts of Africa. Mr. Henry Angelo, a brave and experienced
traveller, has offered to go in search of these poor people,
with a view to effect their release: .0,1 on laturday an
lii-
Iluentiol deputation wailed on Sir Stafford Nertheote to ask
the assistance of her Majesty's Government. Sir. Avg-to
distinctly elated that he desired to gm not as a Government
agent, but on his own personal responsibility ; and Sir
Stafford Northeote intimated that if he undertook the
mission solely in this spirit, and without expecting the
Government either-to protect him or to be responsible for
his actions, he should consider the application favotuably.

- -
In the House of Commons, on Monday, on the sitting of
the committee on the Telegraphs Baal, important announce-
ment was made by Mr. How Scott on the pert of the railway
companies. It was to the effect that agreements had heen
co eto with the Great Northern, London and North Westeni,
Great Western, Midland, and North Eastern, and that there
was every probahility of the Lancashire and Yorkshire and
London and South Western speedily renting to terms. Each
company is to have its own system of telegraphs 011 railways
and canals, independently of the Post-oftice wires, and the
Pont-office are to have a perpetual way leave over railway
lines, the companies erecting and maintaining al/ wires and
poles on the railways. The Post-othee will pay for those
belonging to them on terms to be settled by arbitration or
mutually agreed upon.

The visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to the Crystal Palnee
last Saturday was the occasion of a series of festivities 01 un-
wonted magnificence, and as upwards of thirty thousand
persons were present the demonstration achieved a success
which was very complimentary to his Roysl llighne=s :hal
highly satisfactory to the directors The Duke was iiccom-
panied by the Prince of Wales and n distinguished party.
Both Signor Mario and Mdlle. Adelina Patti took part in the
concert; and the new song which has been conmosed in
honour of the Prince was the signal for an outburst W enthu-
siasm which must have delighted his Royal highness. The
whole system of the fountains was put in operation ;- and
late in the evening there wan an unprecedented display of
fireworks, in which Colonel Liughes, M.P., and his volunteers
rends red effective service.

An important case, as affecting the political status of the
compoond householder, has been decided by the Court of
Common Pleas AMr Lawson is the owner of a house in
Queen-street, Sunderland, which contains six rooms, and
each is let to a separate tenant. Neither the landlord nor
anyone reprementhrz hhn resides on the premises. Provirotsly
to the passing of the Reform Act of last year Mr. Law,on
paid all rates ; bat since then the overseers have rated each
occupier separately. The question was, whether this was
right, and it depended upon the construction of the Seventh
section of the Act, which to in effect that where any dwelling-
house or tenement shall be wholly let out in apartments or
Imlgings, hut separately rated, then the owner shall be rated.
The court unanimously held that the occupiers were not
entitled to be severally rated, and that the rate should Ito
made out in the Caine of the landlord. This decision will
keep off the register large numbers of the working classes In
tile north of England