The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-01-08 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The first English public school in yvti.ig wa
opened at Nicosia on Tuesday. The High Commissione de
livered a speech, in which he said that all classes would
derive benefit from a knowledge of English.

Six men employed in clearing the railway line near
Bancroft, Nebraska. have been killed by a train which
came upon them while passing through a narrow cutting in
the snow.

The Times announces the death of Miss Macleod, at
Manners-road, Hampstead, in her 101st year. She had been
residing latterly with her nephew and niece, Major-Cieneral
and Mrs. Douglas-Hamilton, celebrated her hundredth
birthday on New Year's Nye, having been born December
31, 1740. he survived that anniversary only two days.

On Monday morning the body of a man aged about
£0 was found on the railway near Rumford station. He bad
been knocked down by a train and carried forward some
distance.

A revolution in indigo culture is threatened by a
German discovery. Professor Buyer of Munich has turned
out an artificial indigo by means of cinnamic acid in a nitro-
bromic combination, which posPesses all the properties of
the commerciad article derived from the Italian plant. A
Main, helm manufactory produces the cinnamic acid from
tar oil.
The total amount of the sales under the Encumbered
and Landed Estates Act (Ireland) to December, MO, exceeds
252,000,000.—Estates Gazette.

"The year 1880 closes, and that of 181 opens, for
Italy under happy auspices. Abroad there is a fait under-
standing and good accord with all the Powers, and at horno
perfect tranquillity. No foreign or internal difficulty
troubles her; the year's harvests have been abundant; and
the commercial and financial receipts show a steady in-
crease."—Correspondent of The Times.
The arrivals of live stock and fresh meat from the
United States and Canada landed at Liverpool last week
were considerably below those of the preceding week; and
as regards live sheep there were none landed. The totals
were, 427 cattle, 6,959 quarters of beef, 304 carcases of
mutton, and 697 pigs; against a total of 904 cattle, 262 sheep,
7,893 quarters of beef, 643 carcases of mutton, and 299 pigs
on the preceding week.

- -
A costly edition of Dickens's works is shortly to be
issued, dMiested by permission to the Queen.

A considerable amount of excitement was caused in
Birmingham on Saturday by a rumour that in consequence
of an anticipated raid on the Volunteer headquarters it bad
been deemed necessary to remove the rifles and ammunition
to places of safety. It afterwards transpired that the Volunq
teers were obliged to shift their quarters, and, the new
premises not being ready, the reserve arms were meanwhile
sent to the police-station for security.

King Osear of Sweden has just published a volume
entitlel "Poems and Leaflets from My Jouruz‘l." King
Louis of Portugal has completed his translation into Portu-
guese of Shakespeare's Richard 111. The pri&eeds of the
sale of his translations are devoted to charitable purposes.

The funeral of the late Mr. Aleclii took place at
TiPt*.e Church, Essex, oa New Year's Day, in the presenee
of the ret.tives and personal friends of the deceased.

New Zealand flax is cultivated at Santa Rosa., Cal.
It is a species of cz,tus, now rendered profitable by an
American's discovery of e. .heap mechanical method of free-
ing it from the viseous eoatiuz, heretofore imperfectly done
by expensive hand labour.

The War Office has it in contemplation to replaee
the present military helmet by one of 9. much more service-
able pattern, constructed after the Germgn fashion.

The Berks and Cheshire magistrate Imve—paased a
series of resolutions in answer to the Home srT's
letter with regard to juvenile offenders to the effect trrxt
workhouses were not desirable places of detention for such
offenders, that reformatories and industrial schools should
be made. Government institutions, that parents should pay
at least is. 6d. a week for their support while there, that
ehilaren under 12 should not be imprisoned unless habitually
addicted to crime, and that the age at which whipping may
be inflicted be extended from 14 to 16 years.

On Saturday Captain Boycott drove from Biggrave-
hall to keicester with General Burnaby, M.P., and visited
the Corn Exchange, where he was introduced by General
Burnaby to a large number of tenant farmers and others.
He afterwards went to the Town and County Conservative
Club, which has a thousand members, and was very cordially
received. On Saturday General Burnaby received £5O from
the Duke of Northumberland and .E. 20 from some young men
in Dublin towards the Boycott Fund.

The Rev. Frederick James Jobson, D.D., one of the
most distinguished Wesleyan ministers of the day, died of
paralysis on Tuesday morning, at his house in Ifighbury-
place, London. He was born at Lincoln, and entered the
ministry in 1834. In 1869 he was elected President of the
Conference. Dr. Jobson was in the 69th year of his age.
In London last week 2,517 births and 1,648 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded by 370, whereas the deaths were 224 below,
the average numbers in the corresponding week of the last
ten years. The annual death-rate from all causes, which
had steadily declined in the five preceding weeks from 21-7
to 177, rose to 235. This increase, it is pointed out by the
Registrar-General, was probably in great measure due to
delay of registration In the previous week caus.d by
Christmas Day falling on a Saturday.

Four peasants, going from the neighbourhood of
Como on a Christmas visit to their families in the Alps,
plunged into an avalanche. Ono of them perished, leaving a
wife and four children.
A letter has been received at Teheran in which it
is stated that the Russians in their last engagoment with the
Turcomans lost 3,000 men and a large quantity of rifles and
ammunition, while the loss of the Turcomans was slight.
It is stated that the Empress of Austria has taken
Combermere Abbey, Cheshire, the seat of Viscount Comber-
mere, which occupies a central position for the Cheshire,
North Staffordshire, and North Shropshire lioundl3.

A statute came into force on Saturday, Jan. 1„ for
the protection of all wild birds. Between the Ist of Warch
and the Ist of August in any year penalties are to be imposed
for shooting and taking wild birds. The new Act is extended
to the United Kingdom. There are as many as 85 wild birds
enumerated in the schedule.

A well-informed correspondent abroad writes to us
(Pall Mall Gazette) as follows :—"Prince Bismarck's
thoughts are still very much taken up with his scheme for
the establishment of a general insurance scheme for work-
men, which should at the same time serve the purpose of a
superannuation runa. He does not approve of the propoisi-
tion of Mr. Beare because it does not include the workmen
whom illness or old age render incapable of working. The
Chancellor wants a thoroughly complete measure. In the
Council of Political Economy which he has promoted
labourers are to have their own representatives."

Four num meetings were held on Tuesday at Leigh,
Lancashire, at which 5,000 colliers attended, resolutions
being passed in favour of abiding by the Employers'
hiability Act, and against the principle of insurance colliery
owners wish to establish. The masters were waited upon by
deputations from the miners, the replies being all but
unanimous against work being resumed unless the men con- 1
tract themselves out of the Act. Work is suspended at
about 40 pits in this district alone. At present the miners
are unanimous.

Telegraphic &dykes have been received from New
Zealand announcing the safe arrival, "all well," of the
Lady Jocelyn, which left England on the 27th of September
last for Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, conveying the first party of
about five hundred souls to Mr. G. Vesey Stewart's third
special settlement at Is Puke.

The Bishop of Lichfield has issued a request that in
future, when it is in contemplation to buikl new churches,
or provide new burial-grounds, the plans may be submitted
to him before the work is begun in order to obviate the
possibility of difficulties as to consecration.

On the 28th of last month took place the thirty-
fourth case of cremation at Gotha. The first occurred on
the 10th of December, IS7B.

Lord Rosebery, at his half-yearly audit, remitted 15
per cent. of the rents due from all the tenants on his Buck-
inghamshire estates.

In London, on Saturday evening, the Jermyn-
street Museum was for the first time illuminated by electric
light. The 57 stem adopted is that of the Brush Company.
There are eleven lamps, each with duplicate carbon points,
the second pair being automatically thrown into action
when the first pair is exhausted. An Otto silent gas engine
of 14-horse power nominal works the whole.

Immediately after midnight on Friday. the 31st ult.,
all the prisoners for debt in Scotland were liberated, in ac-
cordance with Dr. Cameron's Act, which came into operation
on New Year's Day. Twenty•five men and two women were
set free from Glasgow Prison. As they passed out of the
prison gates, carrying their beds and bedding, several
hundreds of persons who were waiting greeted them with
cheers.
By the direction of the Duke of Northumberland
some very successful experimants with the electric light are
being conducted at Alnwick Castle. The light is now
use at Sir W. Armstrong's residence at Rothbury.

Mr. Edward Merry, of Bicester, broke his collar.
bone when out with the Bicester hounds on Tuesday. /n
passing over a stiff bit of ploughing Mr. Merry's horse caught
its foot in a drain, and, falling, threw its rider.
The body of David Smith, from which the head had
been severed, was found on Sunday on the railway near
Airdire station.—The fearfully mangled body of a man, aged
about fifty years, was discovered on the railroad netts Port
Glasgow on the same day, as was also that of Geouge
Hamilton, aged fifty.—On Saturday a widow named Green
was killed by a passenger train at Whiffiet Station.

James Mackie, aged fourteen, an inmate of Gordon's
Hospital, Aberdeen, was drowned in Gilcomstone Dam on
Monday morning, the ice having broken under him while he
was skating.

A series of experiments are about to be made at
Portsmouth with the Gramme, Brush, and Jablockhoff
systems of electric lighting, with the object of determinine
the one which is best adapted for lighting the dockyard. It
Is not intended to apply electricity to the illumination of the
Ylll'lollll offices, stores, and workshops, as the workmen
rarely work after dusk ; but the experiments will be con-
fined to the lighting of the docks, basins, and the " open "
generally.

The returns of the French Indirect Taxes for 1860
show a surplus of nearly seven million pounds sterling over
the estimates, a fact which speaks volumes for the financial
prosperity of France.

About 60 Prussian cities have signified their inten-
tion of contributing for a wedding present to Prince
William.

About 30,000 buffalo hides were shipped from
Yellowstone county. Montana, during the put spring and
summer. They were worth about 70,000 dois.

library of 25,000 volumes at the Villa Eueniet at
Biarritz, has been presented by the Empress to the Asylum
of Notre Dame d'Anglet, at Bayonne.

- -
Regular Sunday evening services have been coca-
menced by the Dean of Peterborough in the nave of the
Cathedral. Preaching on Sunday night, he said cathedrals
did not exist simply for musical ceremonies and daily prLyer,
but that they ought to be the means of diffusing Gospel Tight
and truth wherever they were placed.

It was decided on Monday, at a meeting of miners'
representatives from Yorkshire and Derbyshire at Barnsley
to give notice to the masters for a 10 per cent. rise.
- - - -

Much damage has been done at Barcelona, in the
province of Messina, by floods. The river has burst through
its embankments, and a panic prevailed in the town.

- -
Herren Beim and Wagr T, in the last edition of
their book on the population of the earth, estimate the
entire population of the inTlabited globe at 1,458,000,000
persons.
A return just publiehed at Berlin shows that Prussia
possessed in the year 1879 245 gymnasiums, or intermediate
schools, training boys for a university education', attended
by 73,279 pupils. The gymnasia employed in 1879 4,131
masters. In addition to its 245 gymnasia Prussia possesses
34 progymuasia, in which 284 masters teach and 3,991 pupils
attend, and 102 realschulxn, with 1,816 masters and 29,291
pupils.
On Tuesday morning, between two and three o'clock,
as the Brazilian, a Warren Line steamer from Boston, with
a cargo of grain, cattle, and pigs, was entering the Mersey,
she ran, owing to a dense fog, on to the Burbo Bank, and
almost immediately broke in two. Tugs were despatched to
her assistance, by which the live stock was saved ; but the
cargo of grain was, for the major part, lost.
On the Bolton fair ground, at half-past eleven on
Saturday night, whilst some "sailing boats " were rapidly
revolving, Thomas Gledhill, labourer, of Oldham, jumped
upon the framework supporting them, lost his balance and
fell upon the metals. Before the ponderous machine could
be stopped, the wheels of two of the " boats " passed over
speaking
the lower part of his body, killing him instantaneously.
Sir Henry Havelock-Allan, M.P., on
Saturdily night at Darlington, referred to the-Irish question.
He discredited the rumours of dissension in the Cabinet, and
expressed the opinion that at the meeting of Parliament it
would be found that the Liberal party was never more de-
termined and earnest in any movement than in that which
had for its object just4ce to Ireland. With a Cabinet con-
taining Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, and Lord Harlington,
commanding a compact Liberal majority in Parliament, ke
felt that the long delayed reform of the Irish Lannystem
was at last at band.

Kr. Jay Gould's conservatory at Irvington, on the
Hudson, containing rare plants to the value of 100,000 dela.,
has been destroyed by Are.
- -

- •
It is stated that an intimation has been received at
head-quarters that 'here is no intention of carrying out at
present any of the recommendations of the Committee on
the Royal Marine Corps, but that in the approaching
finainial year provision will be made for maintaining the
Mims at etactly the same strength as hitherto—namely,
thirteen thousand.

Cardinal fl gnr, Archbishop of Cambrai, died on
Tuesday at the age of eighty-seven.

Mr. Gladstone, in reply to a communication from
the Dublin Mansion House Relief Committee, warning the
Government of the "probability of considerable distress
this year, in certain parts of Ireland," assures the Lord
Mayor that it "has not escaped the attention of Her
Ilafesty's tiovernbleßt."

A oorreapondent of lrotes and Queries writes :—" A
friend lately requested me to have a peal ring cleaned for
him. The jeweller to whom it was entrusted, on returning
the ring, informed me that he had taken a small worm from
each of the pearls through microscopic holes. He alleged
that these worms were always found in pearls discoloured,
as in the case of those cleaned by him."

A serious outbreak of swine fever has occurred at
Coventry, and the disease has spread with great rapidity. A
large number of animals have been already slaughtered and
buried in lime, and several farms and other places declared
Infected.
- -

The pay of the private soldiers in the Saxon Army
Corps has just been increased to the eztent of twopence a
day per man. The reason assigned for tbla addition is the
increased price of provisions.
At Sheffield, on Monday morning, a eler, named
Moony, was killed by a rujiaway horse upsetting' ladder
uPot which he was working.
Some 300,000 New Year's cards were dealt with ai
the Manchester Post Office on New Year's eve and morning.
It is estimated that at this year the number was 100,000.
excess of the number lash year. A similar increase in the
work of the Post Office Is reported from other large towns.

The "Jersey" jacket and the "Tam O'Shanter."
bat have just appeared in Rome. Roman ladies do not like
the "Jersey" much as yet; and the gentlemen are particu-
larly averse to it, as they also are to the "Tam O'Shanter"
hat. —Court Journal.

The Paris Correspondent of The Times says :—" The
ate General Montauban married in 1873 Miss Jane Wright
Butterfield,lwhose property was settled upon her. On her
decease in 1877 succession duty amounted to 16,6401. was
charged to her husband and two children. The claim was
disputed on the ground that the property had not changed
hands, but was still vested in the same trustees ; but after
three years' litigation the French tribunals have confirmed
the charge, holding that‘the trust was simply an English
expedient for securing sole enjoyment to the wife, stud that
the trustees are not really owners."

While the performance of the pantomime was pro-
ceeding at the Theatre Royal, Rochdale, on Saturday, a
front cloth caught the gas and took fire. It was promptly
lowered and the names were extinguished. The theatre
was crowded and a rush was made to the doors, but no per.
son was seriously hurt. _

Baron Simi; Ton Oppenheim died at Cologne on
Christmas Day, at the age of seventy-eight. The desseased
was head of the eminent banking establishment of that
name, and father of Baron Edward von Oppetahelm, well-
known in English and Continental racing circles. Baron
Simon died possessed of great wealth, and was a liberal dis-
penser a charity during his lifetime.

A statue of Denis Papin, who is regarded by-French.
tneu as the inventor of the steam engine, has been viiveiled
in the Conservatoire des Arts it Métiers, Paris

It is announced in Lisbon that England has re,
quested permission of the Portuguese Government for the
British troops proceeding to the Transvaal te pass through
thA Portuguese territory of Lorenzo Marques, sn routs te
their destination.
The Committee of Assembly of the Free Church
on the relation of Church guid State in Scotland, at a meet-
ing held la /t week, adopted a minute declaring that the
termination of the existing countertop between Ch”-.
State of Scotland, with due regard to life interests, and
leaving the Church now established to carryon 1" important
work by the Christian zeal of its membors, woll4l remove a
great obstacle to the religious well-being oft he eauntrY,
ui and to the prospect of a harmonious Jd flourishing rrolOY-
terianism in Scotland.

On Saturday Mr. Baxter, the East Sussex Coroner,
held an inquest at the Paris Hotel, Newhaven, respecting
the death of a man unknown, who was found the previous
day in the Mill Creek, Newhaven. The body was much
decomposed, and from the medical evidence it was con-
jectured that it had been in the water at least three weeks.
The two front teeth of the upper jaw and several molars of
the lower jaw were missing. The deceased appeared to
have been respectably dressed in a tweed overcoat, dark
ribbed cloth suit, spring-side boots, nearly new red and
white striped socks. The inquest was adjourned.
The latest Revenue Returns show an increase on the
quarter of 492.3.107, on the nine months of £2,025,835, and on
the year of .f. 823,373.
The Booskt Vedomosti, just received from Moscowp
states that the Provincial Assembly at Saratoff has reported
to the Minister of the interior that 750,000 peasants are in a
state of starvation in the Province, and that b,OOOlOOO
roubles will be needed to support them until the spring.
In Samara, the Kharkof Vedornosti states, upwards CI one
million peasants are in absolute want.

During the past week 34 British and foreign wrecks,
of which 14 were British, were reported, the estimated mitt.
being £2,100,000, including British .1,800,000.
The Registrar General reports that rain fell on five la
days of last week. The duration of registered bright sunshine
In London in the week wasq hours, the sun being above the
horizon during G 4.7 hours ; the recorded duration of sun-
shine was, therefore, equal to two per cent. of its ressible
thirstiest.

The United States trok.ps at Fort 13.1 ford have fought
an engagement with a portlt4l of sitting Bull's tribe of
Indians, commanded by the Chit., Gaul. They killed one,
wounded two, and took three hundred prisoners.
New Year's gifts in Paris this year nearly all belon:::
to three styles—lndian, Japanese, or the Louis XV. period
Plush, as in England, is the rage, niulfs, sachets, fans, bon-
bon-cases, purses, d:e., all being of the one material in
different hues.

Mr. Robert Dale, the Manager and Secretary of the
Printing Exhibition held at the Agricultural Hall, Londoia, in
July last, has handed to the Printers' Pension Corporation £lOO
as the share of the profits of the Exhibition which he had
promised to the institution. Mr. Dale has divided the amount
among the three separate funds of the iistitution- the
Pension, the Almshouse, and the Orphans Funds.

The electors of South Ayrshire have ',resented s,
silver plate service to the Hon. North D‘lrrnple, whet
unsuccessfully contested the division in the Liberal interest
at the last election.

On Monday afternoon the funeral of Admiral
Johnson, who had fought at Trafalgar, took place at Little
Baddow, near Colchester. There was a large atterdance
both in the procession and the churchyard. Among those
present were Admiral Luard, C. 8., Admiral Ni'llarsy, Cap-
tain Royce, R.N., Commander Edward Royce, R.N., Colonel
Lucas, and Dr. Blaxall, R.N. The coffin was draped with
the Union Jack, and bore floral wreaths, crosses, and an
anchor in flowers and laurel. As the body was being taken
out of the house the booming of the heavy guns at Shoe-
buryness was heard.

It is stated from Berlin that the first electric railway
according to the plan of M. Siemens will be opened for
public traffic about the end of the present month.
The remains of Lieutenant Irving, of Her Majesty's
ship Terror, one of the vessels of the ill-fated kranklin
Expedition, which were recently brought from New York to
Glasgow, have been conveyed to Edinburgh, to be interred
there with naval honours.

General Moriones, one of the ablest officers in the
Spanish army died on Tuesday night, rather suddenly, of
ulcer in the stomach. General Moriones was fifty-sight
years of age. In the earlier part of his career he was asso-
ciated with General Prim, and he rendered distinguished
service against the Carllsts in the last war. He was after-
wards appointed Governor of the Philippines, where he
stayed four years.

Dr. Hardwicke has held an inquest at Finchley
as to the death of David Inglis, aged 40. Mrs. Inglis de-
posed that the deceased was a master saddler, and for some
time past had been in a low and desponding state of mind.
On Friday morning in last week the deceased got up, and
after waiting for the doctor to see him, he suddenly said he
must go for a walk. She followed him, and when he came
to the bridge of the Great Northern Railway he tried to
throw himself over. Ile then ran across some fields, and on
coming to a pond threw himself in. The Jury returned
a verdict that deceased committed suicide while ef unsound
mind.

A telegram from Paris says that a serious accident
occurred on Saturday in a public ball-room at Rive de Gier.
A gallery, which had been erected for the spectators, sud-
denly fell down with a violent crash on to the danoers below,
carrying with it a large number of chairs and tables, and
about twenty people. A wontan had her back broken, and
died shortly afterwards, while several others were more or
less veriouily injured.